Celebrate Founders Day!

Greenwich was founded on July 18, 1640, when Captain Daniel Patrick and Robert Feake purchased land in Old Greenwich from the local Native-Americans for 25 coats. (This sounds very similar to the deal made for Manhattan Island.) Elizabeth Feake purchased Monakewego (now known as Greenwich Point), while Jeffrey Ferris claimed land west of the boundary with Stamford.

Greenwich was settled by people migrating west from Boston. The Patricks, Feakes and Ferrises all had ties to the Bay State. It was among the first ten towns established in Connecticut between 1633 and 1640, which included: Windsor, Wethersfield, Hartford, Saybrook, New Haven, Milford, Fairfield, Stratford, Guildford, and Greenwich. Stamford was settled in 1641. Notice that these towns either developed on a river or tidal basin. Hydroelectric power became very important to New England.

The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich will celebrate this historical event with a Founders Day Family Picnic to celebrate the 370th anniversary. The program will include a re-enactment of the founding of the town, an address by the Dutch Consul about the Dutch and English influence in Greenwich, and music by the Sound Beach Volunteer Fire Department Band. A lunch consisting of Turkey and vegetable sandwiches, chips, three-berry lemonade, brownies and madeleines can be purchased for $40 a couple.

The picnic celebration will be held at Greenwich Point on Sunday, July 18, from 11 am to 1 pm. You can pre-register for lunch by checking out the Historical Society website at www.hstg.org.

Make a point to stop by Greenwich Point on July 18 to participate in this year's Founders' Day Celebration!